Travels

Lago di Como like a scene from ‘Casino Royale’ – the most beautiful lake I have seen in my life!

I think my desire to visit Lago di Como emerged during our great come back from the French Alps in March 2015. I saw Torno, one of the villages, from the high way and immediately though this is the place I want to spend my holiday in.

Everything appeared to be as beautiful as I imagined it to be. I immediately thought it looks like a scene from James Bond movie. In fact, ‘Casino Royale’ was shot in Lago di Como – just in front of Villa Balbianello, one of the major tourist attractions in 146 km-Lago di Como area.

Lake Como has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, and a very popular tourist attraction with many artistic and cultural gems. It has countless villas and palaces, such as famous Villa Balbianello. In 2014 The Huffington Post named  Como the most beautiful lake in the world for its magnificent views, prestigious villas and picture-square villages.

The only thing what is missing are the beaches, but I assume this would not be your goal while choosing Como as your next destination.

What we did was the road trip around Lago di Como – we wanted to see everything ourselves, and it was totally worth it, as every village has something unique to offer.

Lake Como is home to sailing, windsurfing and kite-surfing. In 1818 Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the major English Romantic poets wrote : ‘This lake exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty, with the exception of the arbutus islands of Killarney. It is long and narrow, and has the appearance of a mighty river winding among the mountains and the forests’.

What is my honest impression? This is the most beautiful lake I have seen in my life. I could not ‘see enough of it’. Every corner was beautiful and there was something sophisticated about it. The mix of water, Alps and the nature makes it unforgettable.

The only ‘failure’ was dedicating TWO days to this magnificent place. Way too short! A day longer would be just right to fully enjoy this place, the way I see it.  If I was to make another plan, I would probably go for renting a boat ( I know, I am obsessed with boats) for a couple of hours and I would also do the famous cruise from Como to Bellaggio. But well, nothing lost here, as I will be coming back soon.

Get the look :

Top – Otto Mode, get from here

Skirt – Otto Mode, get from here

Bag – Chloe Faye, get from here

Sandals – get similar here

Get Inspired :

Red Maxi – get similar here

We stayed at Hotel Orso Bruno. I chose this lovely property because of its strategic location – around 15 minutes from Como (town). It is very easy to reach by car, train and boat – the boat station is located just in front of the hotel. As it is quite a long way from the high road, staying here guarantees the most desirable peace and quiet.Our balcony faced the lake itself, with all the blues and greens on the horizon. What a perfect view in the morning!

I especially love this hotel because of its cosy atmosphere. It’s a boutique hotel run by a lively family, which makes it very friendly! The interior is kept in a vintage style, with all the yellow curtains and coffee tables. It definitely corresponds to the whole mood about Lago di Como. Although this is not a 5 star range, it makes you feel like you are in the 50’s with all the fashion elite. Luxurious hint guaranteed + no snobby atmosphere.

The food in their restaurant was delicious. Even my ‘complaining on every restaurant’ boyfriend loved their food. It was all freshly made, with the use of healthy and the best quality ingredients. What to order? I kept ordering the sea food salad, but their iconic risotto and fish is also a must!

The hotel offers the whole variety of attractions, such as cruises – you can book everything from the reception.

Recommended for :

  • couples
  • families with children – you can order a bigger room or an extra bed
  • elderly travelers
  • road trip guys
  • people searching for peace and quiet places
  • people searching for a retreat

 



In case you have missed – there is a post what to do in the North of Italy here and Cinque Terre experience here.

106 Comment

  1. So so beautiful Claudia, that lake looks breathtaking and the villages have the cutest little colourful alleys. I would love to visit one day, all your posts fill me with this wanderlust feeling that I want to grab my suitcase and go exploring 🙂 Have a great weekend, dear

    Saida | She talks Glam

  2. Oh wow! The pictures are absolutely beautiful! What a lovely location! I’ve never really been to Italy, but it’s definitely on my list… Your pictures make me want to go there on holidays right away. Really amazing pics, well done!

    XOXO
    MariiBee
    http://thehoneycat.com

  3. Ein ganz und gar wundervoller See, ich war leider noch nie da aber ich möchte sooo gern. Kein Wunder, dass George Clooney dort ein Haus hat und James Bond dort gedreht wurde, genau wie Star Wars.

    Deine Bilder sind jedenfalls klasse geworden, leider sind sie sooo riesig, dass es sehr lange gedauert hat, bis sie geladen waren. Nur als Tipp 🙂

    Ganz liebe Grüße,
    Ricarda von CATS & DOGS: http://www.wie-hund-und-katze.com

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